AIMS AND METHOD: Mental health services have changed the way they operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the challenges and innovations reported by staff working in services for people with intellectual disability and/or autism in National Health Service (NHS) and non-NHS sectors, and in in-patient and community settings. RESULTS: Data were drawn from 648 staff who participated in a UK-wide online survey. Issues around infection risk and mitigation were more important to those working in the NHS and in-patient settings. Community staff were more likely to express concern about the practicalities of a rapid shift to remote working and engaging patients remotely. Qualitative data revealed support for maintaining remote staff working and remote service provision post-pandemic. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Given the current emphasis on community support for people with intellectual disability and/or autism, the focus of research and clinical practice should be the development of accessible and effective models of remote service provision.
AIMS AND METHOD: Mental health services have changed the way they operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the challenges and innovations reported by staff working in services for people with intellectual disability and/or autism in National Health Service (NHS) and non-NHS sectors, and in in-patient and community settings. RESULTS: Data were drawn from 648 staff who participated in a UK-wide online survey. Issues around infection risk and mitigation were more important to those working in the NHS and in-patient settings. Community staff were more likely to express concern about the practicalities of a rapid shift to remote working and engaging patients remotely. Qualitative data revealed support for maintaining remote staff working and remote service provision post-pandemic. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Given the current emphasis on community support for people with intellectual disability and/or autism, the focus of research and clinical practice should be the development of accessible and effective models of remote service provision.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; autism; coronavirus; intellectual disability; mental health services
Authors: Christine Linehan; Gail Birkbeck; Tal Araten-Bergman; Jennifer Baumbusch; Julie Beadle-Brown; Christine Bigby; Valerie Bradley; Michael Brown; Femmianne Bredewold; Masauso Chirwa; Jialiang Cui; Marta Godoy Gimenez; Tiziano Gomeiro; Šárka Kanova; Thilo Kroll; Henan Li; Mac MacLachlan; Jayanthi Narayan; Finiki Nearchou; Adam Nolan; Mary-Ann O'Donovan; Flavia H Santos; Jan Šiška; Tim Stainton; Magnus Tideman; Jan Tossebro Journal: HRB Open Res Date: 2022-04-04